Improvement in mechanical movements



L. SCOFIELD.

Improvement in Mechanical-Movements.

N0. 130,158.` Patented Aug. 6,1872.

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UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI SCOFIELD, OF WATER'IOWN, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JUSTINB. WAIT, OF AGRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,158, dated August6, 1872.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, LEVI SooEIELD, of Watertown, in the county ofJefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and usefulMechanical Movement; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full7clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaceompanyin g drawing forming part of this specification, in which-Figure l is a perspective view of devices for carrying out my invention;Fig. 2, a top-plan view; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section; and Fig. 4, amodiication of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures ofthe drawing. v

My invention has for its object to convert reciprocating intointermittent rotary motion; and to this end it consists in thecombination of one reciprocating catch, or more, or arms, with anendless chain, rope, belt, band, or equivalent device, which is moved bythe catches, substantially as I will now proceed to set forth.

For the purpose of description I shall refer more particularly to achain and to the form of catches shown in the drawing; but I wish itunderstood that I do not confine the invention to these forms, butregard it as including all equivalent shapes and devices within thelimits of the principle involved.

In the drawing, A is an endless chain, consisting of alternate open andclosed links, and passing around wheels or pulleys B having theirbearings upon a suitable support. The wheels are formed with a series ofperipheral arms, pins, or points, arranged at such distances apart as toenter the open links of the chain as the latter is operated. D is aslotted plate, mounted upon the support C between the wheels, so as toslide freely the length of the slots, and provided with lateral arms F,

which extend outward under the chain so as to support the same. The endsof the arms are bent upward slightly to prevent the chain from slippingoff, and near or adjoining these bent ends .the edges are inclinedupward in opposite directions toform catches, as shown at g, Fig. l.When the armed plate is reciprocated the catches alternately bearagainst the ends of the open links upon the lower side of the chain,moving the latter intermittently in the same direction, and imparting anintermittent rotary motion to the wheels B. While the catch upon oneside is moving the chain forward the depressed portion h of the oppositearm allows its catch to pass freely under the links of the chain withoutmoving them. By this arrangement the catches engage the chainalternately and throw it forward the distance of one link at eachmovement. The throw of the chain, however, depends upon the stroke ofthe catches, which may be adjusted to one or more links, ascircumstances require.

In Fig. .4 I have shown the reciprocating plate arranged to slidebetween guides I, and having its catches so constructed as to enter theopen links for the forward movement of the chain, and to slide back pastor under the closed links when the movement of the plate is reversed, aswill be readily understood. A chain of any suitable construction andsize may be employed, according to the character of the machinery to beoperated; or, in place of a chain, a belt, band, or knotted cord or ropeof any kind may be used, and the catches so constructed as to adapt themin a convenient manner to the form selected. In some cases a singlecatch may be used instead of two, as described.

Instead of applying the catches between the sides of the chain,belt,&c., they may be arranged upon the outside of each in any convenientmanner, or they may be constructed in the form of spring-pawls andplaced in any proper position, the essential requisite being` that theyshall reciprocate and engage alternately with the sides of the endlesschain.

In case belting is-used to connect the wheels or pulleys, it should beformed with openings or receptacles to engage the arms of such wheels,which openings may also serve to receive the catches. Projections ortransverse strips may be employed for the latter purpose, if desired.

By arranging heavy fly-wheels upon the shafts of the chain wheels orpulleys the intermittent may be converted into continuous rotary motionand, instead of using two armed wheels, one only may be employed, theother end of the chain passing over a pulley or drum.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combinationof one or more recproeating catches with an endless chain, or its of a.chain, or its equivalent, and with suitaequivalent, passing over oraround suitable ble Wheels or pulleys arranged to engage the Wheels orpulleys, substantially as described, chain, substantially as described.

for the purpose specified. 2. Converting reciprocating into iutermit-Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. PRATT,

H. V. D. WEYDEN.

LEVI SCOFIELD.

tent rotary motion by the combination of one or more reciprocatingcatches with the stops

